One of the most exciting events on the calendar this holiday season was presented in grand style. The seventh annual Hotspots Holiday Celebration was held on Tuesday, December 9 at the W Fort Lauderdale, located right on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The event doubled as a benefit for The Pride Center at Equality Park. As in past years, this lavish event also featured chic, modern furniture from the well-regarded Adam’s Interiors, adding an even higher level of elegance to the very hip W Fort Lauderdale.

Jonathan Farkas, Vice-President of Marketing at Adam’s Interiors, told us, “Over the years, we have developed wonderful friendships with members of Hotspots and the community. This event is something we look forward to all year long, and as usual it did not disappoint. Great venue and always good company! The reaction from guests regarding our collection was very positive and it was our pleasure to satisfy them!” Among the pieces on display were a three-peace all white Italian leather sectional, two world-famous Stressless chairs and ottomans, glass and chrome cocktail tables, small-scale pub tables with barstools, and perhaps the conversation piece of the evening, a unique “wire man” which provided for great photo ops!

Even before the celebration began, staff were setting up the fourth floor of the W Hotel to make sure everything was just right for the night’s festivities. While the event started at 7 p.m., there were more than a few attendees who were so excited that they arrived early! Both the staffs of Hotspots and The Pride Center were overjoyed to see so many people from the community come together at this unforgettable celebration.

Mark Silver, owner of Argenti Designer Jewelers, told us he was proud to be a presenting partner at the Holiday Celebration. “It [was] my sincere pleasure to assist in raising money by donating the jewelry I design for the silent auction benefiting The Pride Center. The jewelry creations that were donated were either one of a kind pieces or in limited quantities using exotic gemstones and all set in sterling silver with a platinum plating. The celebration event…is living proof of how far we have come as a South Florida LGBT community. I am sincerely honored to have this opportunity to reinsert the essence of the “thanks and give back” consciousness into the holiday ritual. …Through our participation in community fundraising, we all benefit and [invest] for the next generation,” he said.

“When I congratulated my friend, Peter Clark, publisher of Hotspots Magazine, on the Holiday Celebration event he has created, Peter verbalized a message that says it all: ‘It Takes a Village.’ Thank you to Peter Clark, Scott Holland and the entire staff at Hotspots Magazine—you guys are a CLASS ACT!” he said.

One of the highlights of the evening were the remarks from Hotspots’ Peter Clark and The Pride Center’s CEO, Robert Boo. The two were very thankful for the response from the community not only by attending the celebration, but by raising money which will go directly to The Pride Center to continue providing top-notch community service and programs. The money that was raised will be a great help to the venerable organization as it will soon start another year of service to the LGBT community in South Florida.

Robert Boo of The Pride Center said to us, “The Hotspots Holiday Celebration event provides an opportunity for the tri-county community to come together and celebrate together. The W Hotel rolled out the rainbow carpet and provided a stunning environment for the 487 guests to kick back and enjoy the music and entertainment. Our sincere appreciation to all of the staff at the W Fort Lauderdale for making the event a success as only they can. The Pride Center is grateful to be the recipient of this year’s fabulous event.”

Live entertainment was provided by singer Lillie McCloud, who was featured last year on season three of Fox’s reality competition The X Factor. Among some of the crowd favorites she sang were “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Happy,” and “It’s My Life.” During the latter number, she danced in the crowd and finished the song while atop a glass table. Her energy was infectious as the audience sang along in the spirit of the season.

All in all, the event was a big hit, and everyone at Hotspots Media Group can’t wait to produce and present the “can’t miss” event next holiday season.